​World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia News

​There are “serious environmental problems in China,” said Mr. Hai Bo Li, managing partner of Winners Law Firm, during his presentation at the Executive Roundtable meeting of the WTCGP CEOs’ China Operations Club, where he addressed developments in Environmental Law in China. Over 20 members of WTCGP’s exclusive award- winning club, dedicated to companies doing business in China, attended the meeting on October 17th at White and Williams Law firm to hear from Mr. Hai Bo Li and Andrew XU, Director of Intellectual Property Committee of Tianjin Bar Association, of Winners Law Firm, based in Tianjin, China. Mr. XU provided advice on intellectual property issues, including trademark infringement and the role of China’s Anti-Unfair Competition Law. Frank Bruno, Partner, White and Williams, also presented a brief summary of a recent intellectual property case he handled in China. White and Williams, LLC and Winners Law Firm, created a strategic alliance in 2010 to provide cross-border services to US and Chinese international companies.

​In June, the WTCGP and WTC Tianjin, China signed an MOU to introduce our member companies to opportunities in Tianjin – and on September 22nd, we did just that.

Dr. John Bennett, WTCGP board member and Chairman and CEO, Devon International Group recently returned from a productive meeting at World Trade Center, Tianjin, China, where he met with Mr. Eric Cao, WTC, Tianjin, Executive Director and Tiejun Zhang, Deputy Director-General, Tianjin Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning.

The discussion? Healthcare coverage or lack thereof. Extending healthcare benefits to all citizens is a hot topic, not only in the US, but also in the Peoples Republic of China. Mr. Zhang would like to provide expanded healthcare benefits to include coverage of approved specialty drugs and some medical procedures that are not covered by China’s Social Security Program.

Devon International Group was also glad to report some confirmed steps forward, “We have received approval to offer Catastrophic Health Coverage to the People’s Republic of China,” says CEO, Dr. John Bennett. “We are the second US Company to offer coverage for severe medical problems in the US, and are glad to be partnering with world- renowned reinsurance company, Munich Reinsurance America.”

Next steps? Mr. Zhang will provide additional information to the Devon International Team and together they will move closer to providing extended healthcare coverage to the citizens of Tianjin, China.

“Projects in the Pipeline - Millenium Challenge Corporation, The World Bank, The Inter-American Development Bank.”

Join the US Commercial Service Philadelphia along with Temple University Fox CIBER, and our partners; the World Trade Centers of Greater Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Delaware to learn how to apply for and win projects from international development organizations. Read more.

ARLINGTON, VA - Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced its largest return on investment since the agency was created by the Jobs Through Exports Act of 1992. Far surpassing all previous results, USTDA identified $95 in exports of U.S.-manufactured goods and services for every $1 invested in infrastructure projects in emerging economies.

The increase in USTDA's return on investment is the direct result of over $4.6 billion in exports of U.S.-manufactured goods, technologies, and services. These exports include the sale of transportation, energy, ICT and agricultural products, technologies and services. This historic return represents more than double the Agency's return from just eight years ago, when the export multiplier was $40 for every $1 programmed. USTDA's continued success comes from facilitating mutually beneficial commercial partnerships between leading U.S. providers and overseas project sponsors. These partnerships directly advance President Trump's priorities of creating new U.S. jobs through the opening of markets for increased exports of U.S.-manufactured goods and services.

"USTDA's unprecedented results demonstrate the commitment by this Administration to reduce barriers to the export of U.S.-manufactured goods and services that support high-paying export-related job creation in America," said Acting Director Thomas R. Hardy. "The Agency again exceeded expectations and will continue working tirelessly to introduce emerging markets to the most innovative and appropriate U.S. solutions as countries invest in the development of their infrastructure priorities."

As the U.S. government's project preparation agency, USTDA supports a diverse portfolio of projects, from energy development in Africa to transportation linkages in Latin America. Many of these projects are advanced by innovative small U.S. businesses and the cutting-edge goods and services they have to offer. Through USTDA's programs, these businesses gain access to new overseas markets and USTDA's overseas partners are introduced to innovative U.S. solutions that are most appropriate to their development needs.

What does an underwater robotic vehicle manufacturer have in common with an organic bug spray company, a manufacturer of stainless steel and an ice cream shop?All four are successful Pennsylvania exporters who are growing their business and strengthening Pennsylvania’s economy.

According to the Greater Philadelphia Export Plan, launched by the Economy League of Philadelphia and the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) in April 2016, manufacturing and services firms that export enjoy higher revenues, faster growth, a stronger labor pool and higher profitability than non-exporters.

Raising the region’s export intensity to the average for the 100 largest U.S. metros — an ambitious but realistic goal — would translate into $6.3 billion in new economic activity every year and 35,000 additional jobs.

This represents enormous untapped potential to strengthen our economy. According to WTCGP President Linda Conlin, the region’s export economy is “well-positioned” for success.“We’ve been counseling companies since 2002. As one of 320 World Trade Centers, WTCGP has helped area companies generate over $1.6 billion in incremental export sales, supporting over 20,200 jobs,” said Conlin. “Global opportunities exist, and it is up to organizations like the WTCGP, U.S. Commercial Service, Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC) and state, county and local governments to continue to support these small to medium sized businesses.”

So, how do we get more Pa. companies on board? First, consider these tips from a recent event on going global.Here are four Pa. companies that have found success in exporting:

Pottstown-based VideoRay is the largest volume producer of portable inspection-class underwater robots used in port security, law enforcement, offshore oil and gas drilling and ship inspection. Just recently, VideoRay fulfilled two large orders for Autonomous Remote Vehicle Systems — one for the French Navy for $1.5 million and another for the Indian Navy for $1 million. Today, VideoRay products are used on every continent.

“If you had told me nine or 10 years ago that we’d be doing business overseas, I would have told you that you were crazy. And yet today, we are all over the world,” says John Curley, Vice President of International Sales for Sandmeyer Steel, a stainless steel and nickel alloy manufacturer located in Northeast Philly. Sandmeyer currently maintains 10 international sales locations and business is good.

In April 2017, GreenerWays was named Exporter of the Year in Bucks County by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Founded in 2010, Greenerways LLC is a Langhorne-based company that develops, produces (via consignment manufacturing) and wholesales organic household cleaning and insect repellent products. GreenerWays is currently exporting to Japan, Hong Kong, Aruba and Mexico.“Greenerways, LLC, is an outstanding example of a small business that starts, grows and goes on to success in the global exporting market,” said SBA Eastern Pa. Director Antonio Leta.

In December, Bassetts, America’s oldest ice cream company and a hometown favorite, shipped its first container of ice cream to South Korea, and has opened its first store. Bassetts is also selling in China and the Caribbean and China accounts for 20 percent of Bassetts revenue. Bassetts has reportedly experienced double-digit growth in the last three years, and President Michael Strange expects that growth to continue.

Delegates from China recently toured a Caterpillar factory in Indiana, as part of USTDA's commitment to grow U.S. exports and create U.S. jobs.

​DATE:September 29, 2017

​ARLINGTON, VA - Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency launched its Global Freight Rail Initiative to bolster the competitiveness of American exporters that are vying to supply U.S.-manufactured rail equipment and services to high-growth emerging markets around the world. Under the Initiative, USTDA will utilize the full breadth of its proven toolkit to support American rail industry jobs including: early stage project preparation assistance that informs how emerging market rail projects will ultimately be designed, financed and implemented; and reverse trade missions (RTM) that bring overseas decision-makers to the United States to showcase the technological edge and Made-in-the-USA quality and reliability that American rail companies offer.

"USTDA is excited to launch the Rail Initiative, which will support high-paying U.S. manufacturing jobs across the country," said USTDA Acting Director Thomas R. Hardy. "American rail companies have outstanding products and services that can advance the infrastructure goals of our partner countries. Through the Rail Initiative, USTDA will help to make these products and services accessible by introducing our partner countries to innovative, world-class American-made rail goods, technologies and services."

USTDA has a history of success generating exports of U.S.-manufactured rail equipment. Recently, the Agency hosted a Brazilian delegation interested in rail efficiency technologies that could support the safety and operational efficiency of Brazil's passenger and freight rail systems. The USTDA-hosted visit has, to date, resulted in more than $50 million in U.S. exports of rail maintenance equipment.

The projects supported under the Global Freight Rail Initiative will continue building on this success, beginning with the recently completed China Freight Rail Operations Reverse Trade Mission, which visited Indiana, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

GALLOWAY, N.J. - Stockton welcomed its largest freshman class ever in September, with 1,569 new students, a 32 percent increase from 1,190 freshmen in fall 2016.

Dean of Enrollment Management John Iacovelli reported to the Board of Trustees Wednesday that another 988 undergraduate students also transferred to Stockton, bringing the total undergraduate enrollment to 8,275, a five percent increase over the fall 2016 enrollment of 7,854.

When graduate students are added, the total enrollment at Stockton is 9,216, the first time enrollment has exceeded 9,000.

Lacovelli said active recruiting and financial aid contributed to the freshmen class increase, which is impressive considering that many colleges are struggling to meet their enrollment goals.

“This is an exceptional achievement,” he said.

He said 52 percent of new freshmen said Stockton was their first choice. Major factors cited for choosing the university were the program in their intended major, financial aid, the campus visit and open house.

The number of new graduate students also increased, from 332 to 398 students. Stockton now offers a doctoral program in Organizational Leadership, a new Master’s Degree program in Data Science and Strategic Analytics, and a new program for alternate route teachers that can lead to a master’s degree.

The enrollment increase comes as Stockton prepares to open two new academic buildings on the Galloway Township campus and a new residential campus in Atlantic City in the fall of 2018.

Future growth on the Galloway campus is limited by Pinelands regulations, and the new campus in Atlantic City will provide more opportunities for growth to serve New Jersey students.

Summer enrollment held steady in 2017, but Iacovelli said he expects that to increase after the Atlantic City campus opens.

Stockton president Harvey Kesselman said this year’s class helps Stockton reach its goal of 10,000 students by 2021.In other business, the board approved a slate of officers for the 2017-18 year. Madeleine Deininger remains chairwoman with Leo B. Schoffer, Esq., Vice Chair, Raymond Ciccone, Secretary, and Stanley Ellis, Ex-Officio.

The Stockton School of Education received $113,491 grant toward a three-year Building Teacher Leadership Capacity Grant from the New Jersey Department of Education. The funds are being used to develop the Stockton Mentoring Network with the Somers Point and Mainland Regional School Districts.​Stockton will lead a cohort of teachers and administrators to examine mentoring programs and other programs and practices that support beginning teachers. A cohort of 30 teachers will receive professional learning to prepare them to lead their districts’ mentoring programs.

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